Working With a Financial Professional
By Greg Patterson
You don’t have to wait until an event occurs before consulting a
financial professional. Having someone help you develop an overall
strategy for approaching your financial goals can be useful at any
time. However, in some cases, a specific life event or perceived
need can serve as a catalyst for seeking advice. Such events might
include marriage, divorce or the death of a spouse; having a baby or
adopting a child; planning for a child’s or grandchild’s college education; buying
or selling a family business; changing jobs or careers; planning your retirement;
developing an estate plan; or receiving an inheritance or financial windfall.
Making the most of a professional’s expertise
• You’ll need to understand how a financial professional is compensated for his
or her services. Some receive a fee based on an hourly rate (usually for specific
advice or a financial plan), or on a percentage of your portfolio’s assets and/
or income. Some receive a commission from a third party for any products
you may purchase. Still others may receive some combination of fees and
commissions, while some may simply receive a salary from their financial
services employer. Don’t be reluctant to ask about fees; any reputable financial
professional shouldn’t hesitate to explain how he or she is compensated.
• Even if you’re a relative novice when it comes to finances, don’t be afraid to
ask questions if you don’t understand what’s being presented to you. You’re
not being rude; you’re simply trying to prevent misunderstandings that could
backfire later.
• Don’t let yourself be pressured into making a financial decision you’re not
comfortable with or don’t understand. This is your money, and you have the
right to take whatever time you need. However, give yomself a deadline for your
decision so you don’t get caught in “analysis paralysis.”
• If you think your financial life needs a basic checkup rather than a complete
overhaul, you’ll need to clarify the areas in which you’re looking for assistance.
That can help you decide what type of advice you’re looking for from your
financial professional, though you should also pay attention to any additional
suggestions raised during your discussions. Your plans should take into
consideration your financial goals, your time frame for achieving each one, your
current financial and emotional ability to tolerate risk and any recent changes in
your circumstances.
• Think about the scope of the services you’ll need. Do you want comprehensive
help in a variety of ^eas, or would you be better off assembling a team of
specialists? Do you need an ongoing relationship, or can your needs be taken
care of on a one-time basis? If you’re a relative novice or having to deal with
decisions you’ve never had to make before, someone with broad-based expertise
might be a good place to start.
• Even if you feel you need detailed advice from several different speciahsts,
consider whether you might benefit from having someone who can coordinate
among them. A financial professional can sometimes be a gateway to other
professionals who can help with specific aspects of your finances, such as
accounting, tax and/or estate planning, insurance and investments.
If you feel that consulting an expert might be helpful, don’t postpone making
that call. The sooner you get your questions answered, the sooner you’ll be able
to pay more attention to the things—family, friends, career, hobbies—that an
organized financial life could help you enjoy.
Copyright 2015 by Commonwealth Financial Network. This material has been
provided for general informational purposes only by Greg Patterson of Atlantic Wealth
Management in Morehead City, North Carolina, and does not constitute either tax or
^egal advice. You should consult a tax preparer, professional tax advisor or attorney
before making investment decisions. Mr. Patterson can be reached at 515-7800 or *
greg@myatlanticwealth.com, and is a Registered Representative of Commonwealth
Pinancial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC.
American Music Festival
By Linda Seale
The new membership drive has just been launched for the 2015-2016 chamber
music season. Five concerts will be performed at the History Museum of Carteret
County, 1008 Arendell Street in Morehead City, on Saturdays at 8 p.m., with the
exception of the December concert; which is held at the Carteret County Public
Library in Beaufort in conjunction with the Beaufort Historical Association’s
Candlelight Tour. .
The concert series opens on September 26 with the Ariel Quartet, a prodigy
quartet from Israel whose members have been mentored by Itzhak Perlman. They
live in the US and currently serve as the quartet in residence at the Cincinnati
Conservatory. During this concert they will be performing a movement from
Schubert’s lyrical Quartettsatz, Israeli folk songs and a transcendental quartet from
Beethoven’s late period, the A minor Quartet Op. 132, known as his “Resurrection
Quartet.” The Ariel Quartet “mesmerizes audiences with its brilliant playing.”
Each quartet concert wiU feature a major string quartet from the early, middle or
late period of Beethoven’s body of works. The full concert schedule is as follows:
• September 26: the Ariel Quartet
• December 12: Beyond Baroque
• January 23: the Calidore Quartet
• February 27: the Magnoha Baroque (the Nan Cullman Memorial concert)
• April 9: the Enso Quartet
Season subscriptions may be purchased for $110 each by mailing a
check to AMF, PO Box 1099, Beaufort, NC 28516, or by ordering online at
americanmusicfestival.org. Single concert tickets at $30 each maybe reserved by
calling 728-6152, at the website shown above or by visiting the History Museum of
Carteret County.
The Ariel Quartet will perform on September 26 at the History Museum of Carteret County.
Disposing of Cardboard
Cardboard boxes should be recycled—
NOT placed in the trash.
Break down boxes and place them in your recycling bin.
If you have a large amount of cardboard, please break
it down and deposit it in one of the town bins located
behind town halt and at Lot C adjacent to the Public
Safety Building.
September 2015 I Tlw Sliomiine 29